Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-30
CANNES ON THE STAGE.
THE "FOREsT OF BONDY" AT
THE OLD BOWERY.

NEW OTh d hDs SJs-- NC uOS le afPRI~
emily becoming an important factor in
American theatrical entertainments. AT
arst he appeared in tragedies and melo'
Hram as. Then he took a leading part
In comedy. He has, however, kept pace
with the change in public taste, ana Is
now making q regular appearance In
emotional plays. 1t 10 thirty years since
s'The Forest of Bondy' was taVorlte
drama at the old B0wery theatre. Its
most startling roles were those OF zine
Legs of Montarg1s." These were depicted
by two powerful mastitfs. Their lntelll-
gence was wonderful. They acted as
though they were fully conscious that
they were the star performers, and we're
as badly put out by mistakes on the part
of the "supes" as Forrest him. elf would
have been. They riveted the attention OF
the audience IN every scene. When they
finally PINNED the unsupported murderer
by the throat, peals Of applause arose
from the pit, and were Te-echoed long
and loud from the galleries. The great
animals returned to the stage in acknowl-
edgment of the compliment, and rolled
their ewes in establishment at the enthusi-
ssm they had evoked. Night after night
was the theatre packed from pit TO dome
with admirers of the performance. The
dogs were the talk of the town. They
shared in the notoriety OF Fanny Herring,
Mexican Buchanan, and other classic
actors and actresses. W hen the four
footed performers lost their lives years
afterward at fire in "a " es.eTn city, they
were beIlOaned and lamented almost as
much as the actors who persisted fully
as miserably in the Brook Ign theatre.
Not long after the death OF these mas
tifFs a group of performing dogs made
their appearance in spec tacular drama
at Niblo's Garden. 1t was In the palmy
DAYS Jarrett and Palmer. The dogs came
from England, and Ike most
English theatrical importations we're re-
ceived with open arms. These dogs per-
formed in schoolroom scene. one long
black fellow with spectacles on mis- nose
and q cad under his i0releg. sat bolt up
right. like a Yale professor. His pupils,
,arraved in check aprons and roundabouts,
were before him at little desks. They
were OF all colors. sizes, and intellects.
If pupil desired TO go out he held up
his paw. and the pedagOgue nodded his
head. The dog turned tag at the pre-
ceptor's desk as he disappeared, with the
inscription tout" facing the school. On
mis- return the words "all In" were made
visible on the tag. The Ounce block was
a conspicuous feature, and the dog who
wore the tall cap seemed to deeply feel
the modification. These dogs drew full
houses for an entire winter, and then
starred 1T in country cities.
Soon afterward Harry Palmer produced
his famous performing goat. The goat
rode horse in ring, a lOpp-eared cur with
a face OF rare intelligence rode the goat,
and marmoset rode the dog. Tue goat
Jumped upon the horse while the animal
was in full motion, the dog sprang up
after the goat had got INTO position and
the marmoset bounded into place after
the dog had got his equilibrium. To see
the whole Quadrupedal pyramid
ambling around the ring, with
the long black beard OF the
goat waving from his chin, the straight
tail of the cur quiVering like a stick of
licorice on a wire, and the keen ewes of
the monkey sparkling like diamonds, was
a sight both attractive and amusing. The
following year ushered in the troupe Of
Jumping dogs so well known at variety
shows, of which the dog clown is so en-
pertaining a feature. This fOur-legged
troupe has been seen in nearly every city
In the Union. 1t is, however, more
adapted to the circus than to the theatre.
Augustin DAILY was the first to intro
duce a canine actor this season. The
actor appeared in comedy entitled
. <'Love on Clutches" He was an English
pug, and was ably supported by Miss Ada
Rehan. This pug, ike other performers
of English extraction, owed it's success
to It's beauty rather than to Its talent. Its
nonchalant but aristocratic hearin1 set
female hearts in fiutteT. All calltd il a
perfect love and too sweet 10 live. The
pug wore q ribbon OF the same color as
Kyrle Bellows cravat, and created far
more havoc among the fair sex. Like
come Englishmen, but not like BelleW, it
maintained dignity more than common
surate with its Importance, ana drew
down the house.
The histrIonic ability Of this pug, how
ever, bears no comparison to That of a
skye terrier, who appears with Mrs.
Langtry In the play o, "Enemies"
Charles Coghlan gives her no more eff
cient support. Those who see the drama
will remember the terrier long after the
images of the Lily aud MIR. Co.hlan fade
from their memories. The little fellow
appears in the arms OF Mrs. Langtrv
while she is seated on a rustic stone
bridge. The son of her fathers mortal
enemy saunters over the bridge, and is
attracted by her loneliness. They con-
verse on everyday topics, and the terrier
seems attracted by the stranger. AS he
disappears, the dog looks wistfully after
him. His mistress says, in vivid tones.
Look after him well, sir; he Is our
enemy"
At the word 'enemy" the dogs ears
stand up like the ears Of black.aud-tan
on hearing the cry of "rats,' He springs
up in her arms, and barks viciously at
the vanishing figure. The whole
theatre smiles, and then bursts into loud
applause.
But 1t is the performance Of DOG at
Tony Pastors Opera House that verlfies
the truth Of the saying that zone touch Of
nature makes all the world akin" He is
neither pug nor terrier, but common
yellow dog, such as is owned by nearly
every negro in Georgia anu New JERSEY.
His master stalks on the, stage represent
ing q slave on an oldp lantation.
The log cabin stands near. A tre-black-
ened stump is IN the foreground. The
old slave has returned to his abandoned
cabin. Fond memories Oyerwhelm him.
He recalls the dsvs OF his youth. when
the corn tops were green and watermel-
ons were ripe. He huns plantation
melody so ancient that be has almost tor
gotten the music, he breaks down in
husky voice. just here his old yellow
cog, the companion OF his travels, ap.
pears. "Yaler," says the white.haired
darby, ''you must help old Tom sing.
He's done forgot de music. sure"
The dog mounts the stump and his
master again begins TO sing IN a tremu.
lous tone. The dog lifts his head and nils
the air with doleiul notes. The negro soon